Mobility in a multi-network wireless system

Abstract

A method includes receiving one or more data packets from an external network when a user device connects to a first network. The user device is configured for dual connectivity with the first network and a second network. The method also includes transmitting a measurement configuration to a modem of the user device and receiving a measurement report from the modem. When it is feasible for the modem to perform a network change, the method includes transmitting a network change command to the modem. The network change command causes the modem to perform the network switch to connect the user device to the second network.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving, at data processing hardware of a user device, one or more data packets from an external network when the user device connects to a first network, the user device configured for dual connectivity with the first network and a second network; 
 transmitting a measurement configuration from the data processing hardware to a modem of the user device; 
 receiving, at the data processing hardware, a measurement report from the modem, the measurement report based on the transmitted measurement configuration; 
 determining, by the data processing hardware, whether the received measurement report indicates a quality of the second network that exceeds a quality of the first network by a quality threshold; and 
 when the quality of the second network exceeds the quality of the first network by the quality threshold, transmitting a network change command from the data processing hardware to the modem, the network change command causing the modem to perform a network switch to connect the user device to the second network. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first network comprises one of a macro-cell network or a neutral host network and the second network comprises the other one of the macro-cell network or the neutral host network. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the macro-cell network comprises a first long-term evolution radio access network supporting radio communication with the external network via one or more macro-cell evolved nodes; and 
 the neutral host network comprises a second long-term evolution radio access network supporting radio communication with the external network via one or more neutral host evolved nodes. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the macro-cell network is deployed by a mobile network operator and the neutral host network is deployed by an entity separate from the mobile network operator. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the neutral host network supports multiple carriers from several different mobile network operators. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurement configuration contains one or more measurement triggers that cause the modem to transmit the measurement report to the data processing hardware. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the measurement triggers comprises a switch-request trigger that is satisfied when the quality of the second network exceeds the quality of the first network by the quality threshold. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein receiving the measurement report from the modem comprises receiving a switch-request report from the modem when the switch-request trigger is satisfied. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the network change command from the data processing hardware to the modem is further based on at least one of cell load on the second network, backhaul load on the second network, or an ability for the second network to support voice calls. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the network change command from the data processing hardware to the modem is further based on at least one of a geographic position of the user device, movement by the user device, signal strength from other radios, or currently active software applications executing on the data processing hardware. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the data processing hardware, a switching report message from the modem, the switching report message indicating whether or not the network switch was a success or a failure. 
     
     
       12. A system configured for wireless communication, the system comprising:
 a first network in communication with an external network; 
 a second network in communication with the external network; and 
 a user device configured for dual connectivity to the first network and the second network, the user device communicating with the external network when connected to the first network or the second network, the user device comprising data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising:
 receiving one or more data packets from the external network when the user device connects to the first network; 
 transmitting a measurement configuration to a modem of the user device; 
 receiving a measurement report from the modem, the measurement report based on the transmitted measurement configuration; 
 determining whether the received measurement report indicates a quality of the second network that exceeds a quality of the first network by a quality threshold; and 
 when the quality of the second network exceeds the quality of the first network by the quality threshold, transmitting a network change command to the modem, the network change command causing the modem to perform a network switch to connect the user device to the second network. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first network comprises one of a macro-cell network or a neutral host network and the second network comprises the other one of the macro-cell network or the neutral host network. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the macro-cell network comprises a first long-term evolution radio access network supporting radio communication with the external network via one or more macro-cell evolved nodes; and 
 the neutral host network comprises a second long-term evolution radio access network supporting radio communication with the external network via one or more neutral host evolved nodes. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the macro-cell network is deployed by a mobile network operator and the neutral host network is deployed by an entity separate from the mobile network operator. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the neutral host network supports multiple carriers from several different mobile network operators. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the measurement configuration contains one or more measurement triggers that cause the modem to transmit the measurement report to the data processing hardware. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the measurement triggers comprises a switch-request trigger that is satisfied when the quality of the second network exceeds the quality of the first network by the quality threshold. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein receiving the measurement report from the modem comprises receiving a switch-request report from the modem when the switch-request trigger is satisfied. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 12 , wherein transmitting the network change command from the data processing hardware to the modem is further based on at least one of cell load on the second network, backhaul load on the second network, or an ability for the second network to support voice calls. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 12 , wherein transmitting the network change command from the data processing hardware to the modem is further based on at least one of a geographic position of the user device, movement by the user device, signal strength from other radios, or currently active software applications executing on the data processing hardware. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a switching report message from the modem, the switching report message indicating whether or not the network switch was a success or a failure.